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Hi there! Welcome to the Magdalena Studios blog, a journal where we share weddings, travel, resources for brides & entrepreneurs, and a glimpse of our lives. When we're not photographing some of the most romantic weddings around the world, we're either fixing up our beach bungalow, surfing and swimming in the ocean, or cooking up veggie burgers. Alongside my (soon-to-be) husband Scott and our trustworthy team of creatives, our life mission is to capture joyful love stories and effortless real-life moments.

Hi, I'm Magi!

7 Tips for a Seamless Wedding Day

Getting ready for your wedding is an adventure all to itself. But before everything is checked off your to-do list, we have a few stellar tricks to share with you for a stress-free wedding day. Here are seven of our best tips that brides may not think of beforehand. We hope they help you savor the big day!

1. Drink water and bring snacks

This one’s less of a secret and more of a must-do. Before the craziness of your wedding day, pack up bottles of water and some fresh fruit, granola bars, or other quick snacks. Between the excitement of getting ready, traveling to and from locations, prepping to-do items, taking photos, and catching up with loved ones, you’re going to forget about staying hydrated until it’s too late. Not to mention, these activities may or may not involve alcohol or coffee, which only dehydrate you further. Keep your mood up by drinking plenty of water on your wedding day.

2. Hire a wedding planner or a day-of coordinator

No matter how handy and organized you are, you’re going to want to hire day-of coordination help. And if you really want to take the weight off your shoulders, hire a wedding planner. Both of these life-saving roles will pay off in the coming months as you get into the nitty-gritty of the day. The last thing you want to worry about on the big day is technicalities, logistics, and last-minute issues. You’re going to have plenty to think about already.

3. Have a timeline and stick to it

Set yourself up for success by creating a wedding day timeline ahead of time. Share it with your vendors, bridal party, and family for a seamless wedding day. The more involved everyone is in the schedule, the better everyone stays on track. You can also include contact information for your point person, Best Man, Maid of Honor, and all your vendors. That way, no matter what happens, everyone is able to handle unexpected glitches. Your timeline should also include travel time between locations and downtime (more on that below!).

4. Schedule some downtime

You’re going to need it. It may seem like there’s no time for downtime! But that’s exactly the point. If you don’t make an effort to pencil it in on your timeline, you won’t be able to pause and catch your breath before saying, “I do.” Mostly, we want you to soak up the day and enjoy every special moment, rather than rushing through the motions and wondering where the day went. So give yourself some time to take a quick walk or coffee break, have a breather before walking down the aisle, and take a moment with your newlywed after the ceremony. You’ll thank yourself later.

5. Put someone in charge of boutonnieres

This is a little-known tip. Make sure there is someone at the groom prep location who knows how to pin boutonnieres. It usually ends up being the photographer and that’s okay as long as we build in that buffer time. Otherwise, we’re taking that time away from our shooting time.

6. Speak up

It’s your day, after all! Don’t be afraid to speak up for what you want. That goes for your photo sessions, your dance moves, and your giggles in the bathroom with your bridesmaids. This day is for you and you are absolutely allowed to own it. If there’s something we can do to make your dreams come true, tell us!

7. Go with the flow

Lastly, take everything that happens in stride. It’s more important that you be in the moment, grateful for everything around you than stressing over the inevitable hiccups. Of course, things will not go as planned. But that’s why you have your trusty coordinator! If you follow these tips, you’ll have a seamless wedding day filled with all the warm and fuzzies. We promise.

Getting ready for the big day? Get in touch for more top secrets for a stress-free wedding day.